Abstract
Microgastrinae is one of the largest subfamilies of the Braconidae with about 2,000 described species worldwide. These wasps are of enormous ecological interest due to their role in controlling the caterpillar populations. This study analyses diversity and community structure within the Microgastrinae in the Artikutza Forest, located in the Peñas de Aia Natural Park, western Pyrenees, Spain. The specimens were collected in two different habitats: mixed forest and beech forest. A total of 524 specimens, belonging to nine separate genera and 27 species were captured. Alpha, beta and gamma diversity were analyzed. Additionally, the relationship between Microgastrinae phenology and climatic conditions were studied.
Highlights
Parasitic Hymenoptera are extremely species-rich and of wide significance in terrestrial ecosystems, because they are a major group of insects with a parasitoid lifestyle [1]
In the mixed forest, species were collected (15 in M-1, 8 in M-2 and in M-3) whereas species were captured in the beech forest (7 in H-1, 7 in H-2 and 7 in H-3) (Table 2)
These differences are because the mixed forest represents an area with a richer diversity of plants and of host species
Summary
Parasitic Hymenoptera are extremely species-rich and of wide significance in terrestrial ecosystems, because they are a major group of insects with a parasitoid lifestyle [1]. Within the Braconidae, the subfamily Microgastrinae with over 2,000 species described and an estimated global diversity of 5,000±10,000 [15], is one of the most important groups of parasitoids in terms of both species richness and economic importance [16] This fact has caused the Microgastrinae to be one of the most studied parasitic wasps by DNA-barcode in recent years [16±19]. In the Iberian Peninsula (Andorra, Spain and Portugal), Braconidae communities have been insufficiently analyzed [4,23±28], with the exception of those in the Pyrenees [29] or in Navarra [30,31] Within this context, this study analyzed alpha, beta and gamma diversity of Microgastrinae in the Artikutza Forest (Navarra) located in the western Pyrenees and having an enormous ecological value. Data on the phenology of the subfamily and its relationship with environmental and climatic conditions were studied
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